The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur witnessed something supernatural on Friday night. In the second T20I of the five-match series, the Indian batters unleashed a ‘ghostly’ avatar in the India vs New Zeland 2nd T20I 2026, turning a formidable 209-run target into a mere formality. Led by a ferocious Ishan Kishan and a masterclass from Suryakumar Yadav, India chased down the total in just 15.2 overs, leaving the New Zealand bowlers visibly traumatized and shell-shocked.
A Shaky Start, A Scarier Comeback
Chasing 209 is never easy, and it looked even tougher when India lost both openers—Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma—within the first two overs for just 6 runs. However, what followed was a batting assault so relentless it felt like the Black Caps were being haunted on the field.
Ishan Kishan, returning with a point to prove, smashed a whirlwind 76 off 32 balls. He reached his fifty in just 21 deliveries—the fastest by an Indian against New Zealand—hitting 11 fours and 4 massive sixes. The Kiwi bowlers, especially Zakary Foulkes (who conceded 67 in 3 overs), simply had no place to hide.
SKY’s Return to Power
If Kishan was the storm, Suryakumar Yadav was the lightning. The Indian captain roared back to form with a vintage performance, remaining unbeaten on 82 off 37 balls*. His signature 360-degree shots made the field placements look irrelevant. Every time a bowler tried to vary their pace or length, SKY responded with an even more audacious boundary, eventually finishing the game with 28 balls to spare.
The Kiwi Collapse Under Pressure
Earlier in the evening, New Zealand had posted a competitive 208/6, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 44 and a late flourish from skipper Mitchell Santner (47*). At the halfway mark, the Kiwis likely felt they were in the driver’s seat.
However, they weren’t prepared for the ‘ghostly’ avatar of the Indian middle order. Even Shivam Dube joined the carnage, smashing an unbeaten 36 off 18 balls. The pressure was so intense that New Zealand’s fielding crumbled, dropping SKY three times and conceding boundaries through sloppy work in the deep.
Match Summary
- New Zealand: 208/6 (20 overs)
- India: 209/3 (15.2 overs)
- Result: India won by 7 wickets (Lead series 2-0)
- Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan
With this historic victory, India heads to Guwahati for the 3rd T20I on Sunday with a 2-0 lead. If the Indian batters continue this supernatural form, New Zealand will need more than just a plan—they’ll need a miracle to survive.
